Picker stick



E. A. TOWNS PICKER STICK May 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 21, 1949 E. A. TOWNS PICKER STICK May 15, 1951 Filed Jan. 21, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 15, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My present invention relates generally to picker sticks for use in looms, and more specifically to a novel and improved picker stick construction combining the features of a permanent base portion and a replaceable upper portion, and further characterized by the inclusion of a wearresistin picker-engaging element.

In the manufacture of picker sticks it is well established that for the most satisfactory performance it is preferable to have the upper portion of each stick adapted for resilient or whipping action and the base or lower portion possessing the properties of strength, rigidity, and durability. Therefore, in an effort to construct such articles in conformity with the above principle, picker sticks have been formed entirely of wood or metal, or in combinations of bothJ In this connection, the completely Wooden picker stick has proven objectionable chiefly because of excessive breakage and a limited operating life due to the severe strains to which it is constantly subjected. The wholly metal picker stick has often been found to be excessively heavy and, of course, does not possess the important feature of resiliency.

The combination wood-and-metal picker sticks have heretofore embodied a number of different forms, but the majority of these have encountered such practical difficulties as lack of balance, effective length of each material, method of uniting the two, added cost, replacement intricacies, and the like.

The main object of my invention, therefore, is directed to obviate the above briefly outlined difficulties by providing an efficient picker stick combining the features of resiliency and strength in effective association, which may be incorporated in any standard loom.

Another chief object of my invention pertains to the novel construction of the picker stick so as to assure long life and infrequent replacement to the parts thereof by providing a lower permanent metal base or socket portion adapted to be pivotally connected with the loom frame, and with means such as a projection or web in said base to engage the lower end of an upper resilient shuttle-actuating portion in interlocking association, especially arranged for easy and quick assembly and detachment.

A further prime object of my invention resides in the particular design of the metallic socket portion, including an interlocking rib construction which affords an extremely strong union with the lower end of the stick portion, thus imparting thereto great strength and. support at the point of severest strain without in any way impairing the inherent resiliency of its upper end.

A still further important object of my invention is the provision of picker-engaging means in the upper stick portion in the form of a wear-resisting plastic element which is impervious to the usual twisting strains involved, thereby assuring a longer degree of life to such stick portion. Such element may be an insert or an addition, and has the important function of reinforcing the edges of the stick, thus insuring firm fitting with a drop box picker.

Further objects, advantages, and details of construction will be hereinafter more fully pointed out in the accompanying description and more clearly defined in the appended claim.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein I show preferred embodiments of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my invention with the stick portion broken away, showing the socket portion formed of light metal, such as aluminum, magnesium, or synthetic plastic, with or without a reinforcing core.

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the interlockin lower end of the upper stick portion;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a modified form of my invention, having the stick portion broken away, showing the socket portion formed of heavy metal, such as steel;

Fig. 6 is an edge view of the same;

Fig. 7 is an edge view of the interlocking end of the upper stick portion for association with the socket portion shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational View, in reduced scale, of my complete picker stick of the form shown in Fig. 5, including a picker insert.

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail view of the top of the upper stick portion, illustrating the synthetic plastic insert feature.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view, in reduced scale, showing a modification of an upper stick portion including a picker-engaging attachment.

In the drawings, referring particularly to Figs. 1 thru Fig. 4, ID designates generally the upper stick portion of my improved picker stick which is made of any usual material having inherent resilient properties, such as hickory, laminated wood or the like, and is constructed, preferably, rectangular in cross-section and tapered towards its smaller top end. The bottom section I I of the stick portion In is provided on each of its side edges with a longitudinal groove l2 and across its end edge with a connecting transverse groove or notch [4. The grooves l2-l2 are either straight or suitably tapered, as shown in the drawing, from a desired depth at the bottom until substantially flush with the edge at the top, and, if desired, may be preferably rounded at the points of connection with each end of the notch I4. This cooperatinglengthwise tapered construction provides an effective wed ingly interlocked connection between the top wooden portion and bottom metal portion, and is of importance in this type of two-part picker stick, providing speedy removal and replacement.

The lower socket portion ,or vbase ifill loer.of my picker stick is designated generally at 20 and comprises a casting of some suitable light metal or any alloy thereof, such as aluminum, having a suitable bottom part 2| formed-with a reinforced opening-22 therethru for pivotal attachment to the frame of the loom and, if sdesired, with a lug element or hook 43 for association with a standard heel strap.

Above said part 2! extends myspecially designed, substantially rectangular interlocking framework consisting of a base 23, a pair of side arms -24-'24'upstand-ing therefrom, inner -ribs 2-5-'25'formed-onsaid arms 2424 and merging intoaweb 26 on the base 2.3;and a pair of top reinforcing braces Zl-Z'l. The ribs ;2525 are widest at their bottom ends and gradually taper towardthearmsZd-Zfi until such ribs25-925 terminate substantially flush therewith ;at the extreme top thereof.

In assembling the upper portion iii-with the socket 26, it will be apparent that, the same can be effected; speedily and simply by, sliding the grooves l 2-I2 on-each edge'of the bottom section II onthe ribs 25,25 until the notch 14 seats on the Web '26.

Thus assembled, a strong, interlocking and stress-reinforced and interfitting union between the portions U! andlt is provided, and, if desired and :as shown in Figs. 1, 2 andL3,:I may further strengthen my picker stick by securing these portions I and 26 by any suitable means suchas a headed bolt 28 inserted thru cooperating openings thru the arms.2424 and a holeboredcin alignment therewith through the 1 wooden 'section H as indicated at l5, Fig. 4, and secured by tightening of a nut 39.

In use, my picker stick is particularly efficient. The metal socket 28, being practically indestructible, is permanently pivoted on the loom frame in the usual manner thru the opening 22. When the lower part II of the stick portion. It! is fully seated within the interlocking construction of the socket'frame and the nut.38, it will be found that the reinforcing braces 2'l--2l will provide positive and balanced support to the stick portion at the point of greatest. strain, thus preventing undue wear to such stick portion and assuring added life and long wear to the same.

7 Referring specifically to the modification shown in Figs. thru 9, wherein I show a socket portion formed of heavier metal, such as steel, and a stick portion having incorporated therein a specially designed insert to prevent damaging wear thereto about the area subjected to repeated twisting contact with the usual loom picker.

From my experiments in this art, I have found that wherea steel casting is used for the socket portion; the heavier metal of itself insures adthereof for heel strap attachment. :slightly from said base 4| into an open frameditional strength and greater support so that a simpler interlocking arrangement may be satisfactorily employed with equally proficient results. And I have also discovered in this form that the points of stress and balance in relation to the.

cooperating stick portion are distinct and different, as will be hereinafter shown.

In this modification I have illustrated a socket portion 48 in the form of a steel casting, or any alloy thereof'having a base 4| witha reinforced opening 42 therethru for loom-engagement, and a novel hook or lug 43 projecting from the heel Flaring like section Mi is the upper part of the socket 40, which comprises side arms @5-45, reinforced upper ,cross-braces 1l546, and a lower upstanding web element 47. The open section 44 is of suitable width and thickness to permit the penetration therein of the lower portion 5| of a stick portion 'fifi, the end of which -.portion-5-l--is ap-- propriately notched, as at 52; to interlcckwvith the web-41.

To prevent the stick portion 553 from jumping out of-the socket 68 during the operation 0f"{bb.8 loom. I have provided a headed bolt 53, which .is easily slid thrusuitable openings drilled .thru the side arms45 and the lower portion: 5|, and secured by the tightening of -.a nut 54. "-As shown in Fig. 5, I prefer in'this modificationrto locate the bolt 53 substantially centrally .of: the interlocked section, which constitutesa point of severe stress and, thus, one which needs reinforcing.

In the loom operation, as the-picker stickosoillates in receiving and throwing the shuttle," the usual pickeror drop-box picker which is attached on thepicker stick adjacent the top thereof, tends to subject this upper sticksurface to such severe. twisting strains thatv the edges thereof are often worn away in a, short. period of time, thereby necessitating a replacement.

'Io .obviate thisdifficulty lprefer to pro v ide an insert 55 adjacentthe top of the stick; 5!) suitably -morticed therein, and appropriatel formed of awear-resisting synthetic plasticma- .terial, thus giving added strength and longer, ,life to the picker-engaging portion-of the stick.

Referring toFig. 10, I'showa modified formof picker-engaging element, particularly ,adapted for use with a drop-box picker. Herein my stick member is designated generally as and includes an upper end section 5! suitably-cutout orreduced in exact proportion to the dimensions of a'wear-resisting reinforcing strip 62 formed of synthetic plastic material fibre, or the like. In uniting the strip62 to the stick end-6|;I;;mey employ any suitable means, suchas .a removable bolt .or pin 63 adjacent the top and ametalhand or collar 64 adapted to be slipped oyer the; top and wedged adjacent the bottom, andthere further secured .by an appropriate rivet 65. .As thus constructed, the .dimensionsof thertop of the stick 6% are suitably proportioned .to. engage the standard opening in the drop box picker and the reinforcing strip so .positionedasto .absorb allthe twisting and strains during "the shuttle-receiving and throwing. operations,=thus eliminating the usual wear and breakingaway of the upper picker stick edges.

Although I have shown the base parts.'2l-and 4! as bein solid portions, I may prefer to lighten or decrease the weight of the samebyhaving openings therein inthe-formofho1e -or.--recesses,

which will in no way weaken the strength of the permanent metal socket portions.

From the foregoing it will thus be seen that I have devised a novel and improved picker stick which is particularly adapted for long wear and added strength, being especially reinforced at the points subjected to the greatest stress, in addition to presenting a construction combining the features of base rigidity and permanency with top resiliency, and having the additional advantage of quick and simple replaceability of the upper stick member in case of excessive wear or breakage of the same.

I claim:

A picker stick of the kind described, comprising an open metal frame portion and a removable wooden stick portion constructed and arranged to be wedged together, said frame having a lengthwise socket and a tapered rib formed therein, said wooden portion having a correspondingly tapered groove to interfit with the socket and rib of the metal portion, said two portions being wedgingly interlocked for a substantial lengthwise part of each.

ERVIN A. TOWNS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

